Sharon Woodall Hewitt (born September 1958) is a
Republican
Republican can refer to:
Political ideology
* An advocate of a republic, a type of government that is not a monarchy or dictatorship, and is usually associated with the rule of law.
** Republicanism, the ideology in support of republics or agains ...
member of the
Louisiana State Senate
The Louisiana State Senate (french: Sénat de Louisiane) is the upper house of the state legislature of Louisiana. All senators serve four-year terms and are assigned to multiple committees.
Composition
The Louisiana State Senate is compose ...
for the
1st district, which encompasses portions of
St. Tammany
Tamanend (historically also known as Taminent, Tammany, Saint Tammany or King Tammany, "the Affable," ) (–) was the Chief of Chiefs and Chief of the Turtle Clan of the Lenni-Lenape nation in the Delaware Valley signing the Peace Treaty wit ...
,
Orleans,
Plaquemines, and
St. Bernard Parishes
A parish is a territorial entity in many Christian denominations, constituting a division within a diocese. A parish is under the pastoral care and clerical jurisdiction of a priest, often termed a parish priest, who might be assisted by one or m ...
. In January 2016, she succeeded fellow Republican
A. G. Crowe, who did not pursue a third term in the
primary election
Primary elections, or direct primary are a voting process by which voters can indicate their preference for their party's candidate, or a candidate in general, in an upcoming general election, local election, or by-election. Depending on the ...
held on October 24, 2015. She chairs the Republican Legislative Delegation in the state senate.
Background and personal life
Hewitt attended
Louisiana State University
Louisiana State University (officially Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College, commonly referred to as LSU) is a public land-grant research university in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The university was founded in 1860 nea ...
in
Baton Rouge
Baton Rouge ( ; ) is a city in and the capital of the U.S. state of Louisiana
Louisiana , group=pronunciation (French: ''La Louisiane'') is a state in the Deep South and South Central regions of the United States. It is the 20th-sma ...
, receiving her
Bachelor of Science
A Bachelor of Science (BS, BSc, SB, or ScB; from the Latin ') is a bachelor's degree awarded for programs that generally last three to five years.
The first university to admit a student to the degree of Bachelor of Science was the University of ...
in
mechanical engineering
Mechanical engineering is the study of physical machines that may involve force and movement. It is an engineering branch that combines engineering physics and mathematics principles with materials science, to design, analyze, manufacture, and ...
in 1981.
Hewitt and her husband, Stan, have two sons. They are members of Aldersgate United Methodist Church in Slidell.
Career
After graduating from LSU,
Hewitt started her career working in the field as a technical contributor, in which capacity she assisted in the installation of the first electrical submersible pump in the
Gulf of Mexico
The Gulf of Mexico ( es, Golfo de México) is an oceanic basin, ocean basin and a marginal sea of the Atlantic Ocean, largely surrounded by the North American continent. It is bounded on the northeast, north and northwest by the Gulf Coast of ...
.
After serving in seven positions at
Shell Oil
Shell plc is a British multinational oil and gas company headquartered in London, England. Shell is a public limited company with a primary listing on the London Stock Exchange (LSE) and secondary listings on Euronext Amsterdam and the New Yor ...
, Hewitt became Deepwater Assets Manager, responsible for all oil and gas activities in the Central Gulf of Mexico.
Hewitt managed a team of over 160 engineers, geologists, geophysicists, offshore workers, and support staff. Managing a $250 million annual budget, Hewitt oversaw more than 10% of Shell Oil's domestic production.
Hewitt has noted the attitude of the oil and gas industry of that time towards women working in the field, and has led initiatives to encourage female STEM education and employment in the industry.
Community service
Hewitt held seventeen positions, including Chapter President, over her 11 years of service for the National
Parent-Teacher Association. In 2010, Hewitt received the National PTA Life Achievement Award (the organization's highest honor at the national level), for her advocacy and leadership in education, safety, and legislation.
Hewitt has been recognized for her efforts to replace technology equipment in local schools after
Hurricane Katrina
Hurricane Katrina was a destructive Category 5 Atlantic hurricane that caused over 1,800 fatalities and $125 billion in damage in late August 2005, especially in the city of New Orleans and the surrounding areas. It was at the time the cost ...
devastated the area in 2005.
Following
Hurricane Ike
Hurricane Ike () was a powerful tropical cyclone that swept through portions of the Greater Antilles and Northern America in September 2008, wreaking havoc on infrastructure and agriculture, particularly in Cuba and Texas. Ike took a sim ...
in 2008, Hewitt organized a relief effort with the Military Road schools, which successfully delivered supplies within two weeks to schools impacted in nearby
Cameron Parish
Cameron Parish (french: Paroisse de Cameron) is a parish in the southwest corner of the U.S. state of Louisiana. As of the 2020 census, the population was 5,617. The parish seat is Cameron. Although it is the largest parish by area in Louisia ...
.
Hewitt served as the Chairman for the St. Tammany Parish Recreation Board, District 16, from 2012–2015.
In this role, Hewitt led the effort to develop a master plan for parks and recreation in eastern St. Tammany Parish, raising over $65,000 to fund the initiative.
Hewitt is an active volunteer with the East St. Tammany
Habitat for Humanity
Habitat for Humanity International (HFHI), generally referred to as Habitat for Humanity or Habitat, is a US non-governmental, and nonprofit organization which was founded in 1976 by couple Millard and Linda Fuller. Habitat for Humanity is a Ch ...
, serving as a Coordinator for the organization's Fall & Spring Women's Build.
Louisiana State Senate
On March 4, 2015, Sharon Hewitt announced her candidacy for the
Louisiana State Senate
The Louisiana State Senate (french: Sénat de Louisiane) is the upper house of the state legislature of Louisiana. All senators serve four-year terms and are assigned to multiple committees.
Composition
The Louisiana State Senate is compose ...
, District 1. Hewitt ran a campaign based on her diverse leadership experience at
Shell Oil
Shell plc is a British multinational oil and gas company headquartered in London, England. Shell is a public limited company with a primary listing on the London Stock Exchange (LSE) and secondary listings on Euronext Amsterdam and the New Yor ...
, as well as her budgeting, finance, and management skills. After defeating her opponent
Pete Schneider
Peter Joseph Schneider (August 20, 1895 – June 1, 1957) was an American pitcher in Major League Baseball who played for the Cincinnati Reds (1914–1918) and New York Yankees (1919). Schneider batted and threw right-handed.
Career
Born in ...
, Hewitt assumed office on January 11, 2016, for a four-year term.
Legislation
Hewitt has been recognized for her legislative activity, focusing on Louisiana's budgetary issues, STEM education, creating jobs, and restoring Louisiana's coast.
In the 2017 Regular Session of the
Louisiana State Senate
The Louisiana State Senate (french: Sénat de Louisiane) is the upper house of the state legislature of Louisiana. All senators serve four-year terms and are assigned to multiple committees.
Composition
The Louisiana State Senate is compose ...
, Senator Hewitt authored or coauthored 18 pieces of legislation.
Three bills authored or coauthored by Hewitt in the 2017 Regular Session have been sent to the governor.
Hewitt authore
SB225 which would create the Louisiana Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Advisory Council (LaSTEM). SB 225 passed both chambers of the
Louisiana State Legislature
The Louisiana State Legislature (french: Législature d'État de Louisiane) is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Louisiana. It is a bicameral body, comprising the lower house, the Louisiana House of Representatives with 105 represen ...
with bipartisan support, and was sent the governor on June 8, 2017.
Committee assignments
Environmental Quality CommitteeFinance CommitteeTransportation, Highways, and Public Works CommitteeCoastal Restoration and Flood Control CommitteeWomen and Children Committee
Election history
During her campaign announcement in 2015, Hewitt stated, "People are tired of career politicians. As an engineer, I am a problem solver. It's time to stop the political games and get to work. Throughout my life, I've earned leadership roles where my passion, organizational skill, collaboration with stakeholders and ability to inspire others has helped solve problems. I will use my skills and abilities to help the people of this district."
Hewitt received several prominent conservative endorsements throughout the campaign, including the St. Tammany Parish Republican Party, GatorPAC, and the political arm of the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry.
On October 24, 2015, Hewitt defeated her primary opponent, fellow Republican and former member of the
Louisiana House of Representatives
The Louisiana House of Representatives (french: link=no, Chambre des Représentants de Louisiane) is the lower house in the Louisiana State Legislature, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Louisiana. This chamber is composed of 105 repr ...
Pete Schneider
Peter Joseph Schneider (August 20, 1895 – June 1, 1957) was an American pitcher in Major League Baseball who played for the Cincinnati Reds (1914–1918) and New York Yankees (1919). Schneider batted and threw right-handed.
Career
Born in ...
of
Lacombe Lacombe may refer to:
Places
* Lacombe, Alberta, Canada
* Lacombe County, Alberta, Canada
* Lacombe, Louisiana, United States
* Lacombe, Aude, France
People
* Albert Lacombe (1827–1916), oblate missionary to the Cree and Blackfoot
* Bernard Lac ...
. Hewitt received 15,144 votes (58.7 percent) to Schneider's 10,645 (41.3 percent). Hewitt and Schneider agreed in the campaign on the need to repair the state budget.
Prior to her 2015 Senate campaign, Hewitt ran for the District 1 seat on the
Louisiana Board of Elementary and Secondary Education
The Louisiana Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE) is an administrative policy-making body for elementary and secondary schools in the U.S. state of Louisiana. It was created in the 1973 Louisiana Constitutional Convention, called by ...
, which encompasses Jefferson, Orleans, and St. Tammany parishes. On October 22, 2011, Hewitt was defeated by fellow Republican
James Garvey,
who received 58.3% of the primary vote.
;2015
;2011
References
, -
{{DEFAULTSORT:Hewitt, Sharon
1958 births
21st-century American politicians
21st-century American women politicians
Businesspeople from New Orleans
Living people
Republican Party Louisiana state senators
Louisiana State University alumni
People from College Station, Texas
People from Katy, Texas
People from Slidell, Louisiana
Politicians from New Orleans
Women in Louisiana politics
Women state legislators in Louisiana